Creek sends 7 to state

PALM COAST -- One competitor had a 103-degree fever and another had a pulled muscle, but that didn't stop Spruce Creek from advancing seven of eight lifters to the state girls weightlifting meet.

With state bids on the line, state power Spruce Creek led the way among area teams Wednesday in the District 6 meet at Flagler Palm Coast Gymnasium.

"It worked out good. I'm extremely happy," Spruce Creek coach Tom Bennett said. "I think the seven we got will all score points and we have four that could win. It's a very young group and there are two freshmen here today and only two seniors, but they're an incredible group."

New Smyrna Beach and Flagler Palm Coast didn't have any class winners, but both programs managed to qualifying four lifters for the state meet, which will be contested Feb. 12 at the Kissimmee Civic Center.

"Everybody did just enough to get in," NSB coach Tim McRae said. "They'll take their chances at state to see what they've got."

Creek's Celine Oskandy used a school-record bench of 190 pounds to win the 139-pound class with a 335-pound total, while teammate Ashley Bueche landed personal-best lifts in all three categories in winning the 154-pound division.

Also scoring title wins for the Hawks were Ashley Koren (110), Jade McCrary (119), Breanna Johnson (129) and Kayla Jaramillo (169). Shelby Koren, who placed second at 101, also advanced to state.

Winning a pair of weight classes for DeLand were 183-pounder Claytia Consalves, who scored a 290-pound total, and Kaylyn Freeborough, who captured the 199-pound class with a 340-pound total.

For FPC, Shyla Ramage lifted a personal-best 160 pounds in the bench press to place second in the 154-pound division, while three other Bulldogs barely made the cutoff with third-place finishes: Qiana Turpin (110), Ailyah Lewis (169) and unlimited lifter Desiree Nieves.

"We had a chance to get all five through, and with our 139 (Ebony Bartley), I knew it would be close," FPC coach Duane Hagstrom said. "We probably took too big of a jump, but she went for it on her final attempt."

NSB had four of six lifters place second in their respective weight classes with Natalie Varano (110), Rebecca Dean (119), Koren Westberg (129) and Sarah Barchard (139) all qualifying for state.